Sat 26th Oct, 11:00am. Ballymoney RFC 34 – 19 Carrickfergus RFC
U13’S PROVING A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK!!
by Uel McDowell
Brilliant result for U13s
Saturday saw the U13’s have their first home game of the season. Blustery but dry conditions were waiting a travelling Carrick side and although this was a friendly both sides had a point to prove. Carrick believed to be a strong well drilled side arrived full of confidence. That confidence was soon to turn to disbelief as the lads from B’money buoyed from last weeks result took the game to Carrick. Playing into a strong wind the forwards looked fantastic, ball in hand the pack were crashing through their opposition at every possible opportunity. From this early onslaught B’money were rewarded for their hard work with Lewis Lyons opening the scoring with one of his familiar ball tucked under one arm, pumping legs and hand offs galore burrowed his way over the line. Conv missed. Score 5-0. A belief in the U13’s ability had now sunk in and after taking a Carrick scrum against the head a pick up and drive from Jack Finney he offloaded in the tackle for Rhys Ferris to dart his way through the Carrick backline to score in the corner. Conv missed. Score 10-0. This was looking like a good day for B’money but as usual the U13’s switched off and allowed the opposition to sneak back into the game. Poor discipline and missed tackles saw Carrick score in the corner and almost from the restart the Carrick out half scored a good solo effort under the posts which he converted. Half Time. 10-12. As always a right old roasting was in store for the half time team talk and some changes were made. The second half was to be the best 25mins of rugby the U13’s have produced all season. B’money took the game to Carrick from the restart good ruck ball on the Carrick “22” saw Tyler Laverty pick up and drive to within the 5m line he showed great awareness to turn and pop to Jack Finney who did the easy bit and dived over the line. Lee Culbertson converted. Score 17-12. A knock on from the restart allowed Carrick to set up a scrum inside B’money’s “22” but a superb scrum from the money men saw them take the ball against the head and an enormous kick downfield into touch took B’money to within 10m of the Carrick line. Carrick took the line out which saw the B’money pack rumble over the Carrick forwards to take the ball and quick hands by the backs saw a last gasp tackle thwart Jack Doak from scoring, he in turn set it up and the ever present Lewis Lyons pick up and score a well deserved team try under the posts. Rhys Ferris converted. Score 24-12. The next 10 mins saw great phases of play forwards and backs linked up well and great lines of running this allowed Jacob Fleck making his U13 debut to cut through the Carrick line, offload in the tackle and this saw no fewer than 4 blue jerseys cross the line. Jack Finney was the try scorer. Conv missed. Score 29-12 With the game entering the last 5 mins Carrick threw everything at B’money and a great wee box kick from out half Lee Culbertson saw Jack Doak gather, set up and release Rhys Ferris only to be stopped by a great tackle. Not to let that dishearten, they soon got their own back with yet another scrum against the head, Jack Finney went down the narrow side only to be bundled into touch. From the line out B’money went through and forced Carrick to give away the line out. From a move taken from the training ground Jack Finney rounded off his hat trick with a score in the corner. Conv missed. Score 34-12 A mix up in the B’money back line saw Carrick round off proceedings with a converted try. Final Score 34-19. Some great running rugby was to be enjoyed by the ever increasing crowd of spectators. From the forwards running with ball in hand and some great shoulder support from the likes of Tyler Laverty, Lewis Lyons and Jack Finney stood out. Again the tackling of Adam Donnelly and Ashley Tweed was much appreciated and needed. The backs again produced a sterling performance having not had the same line up all season. Special thanks to Jacob Fleck who up until 30 seconds before kick off was a spectator who came into the side a put in an excellent shift. This week it isn’t a man of the match more like men of the match and it goes to the entire B’money squad. Players are reminded that training is on Tuesday 6pm until 7:30pm full turnout is essential and it shows that good training produces great results.
